at the top of the show we foolishly asked why are you awake and ace intern johnny tower has your answers. john? >> good morning, mr. barnacle. richard writes "i'm up worry about your fall in the shower. i hope you'reokay. and matt writes, i've fallen and it's way too early to get up. >> there's a little more to the story. my caretaker pushed me in the shower. that's how i fell down. i didn't slip and fall. johnny, thanks very much. "morning joe" starts right now. ♪ like every american, you love the republican and democratic national conventions, the speeches, the wait, the pageantry. now that they're over, you want to relive the most glorious moments of all. introducing "convention cutaways" featuring the best shots from both conventions.

like woman who started sobbing before anyone started speaking. and guy who's dancing to no music whatsoever. and relive the majesty of woman who's just walking around. and guy who brought props that only make sense to him. stunning cutaways of true patriots shaping history like guy who's pretending he wasn't just asleep. woman with way too much arm flab. and guy who didn't know there would be balloons. you'll enjoy hours and hours of inspired cutaways. like middle eastern woman they keep cutting to whenever someone mentions hispanic. straight guy they keep cutting to whenever someone mentions gay marriage. and of course, joe biden. >> hey, look who they found. >> "convention cutaways," order today so we know if we should start making them. >> okay. good morning.

it is friday, finally it is friday, september 21st. >> yeah, baby. >> with us on set, we have the chairman of -- >> you know, that's what the romney campaign has to be thinking right now. >> what? >> thank god it's friday. this has been a miserable week. you look at some national polls. kind of tightened up. if you look at the national, state by state, not so good. >> it's been a bad month. >> it's been a bad month, but donny deutsch is here, and i'm not sure what he's wearing, but i like what you're wearing, mika. >> to celebrate the five-year anniversary. >> i like what you're wearing. >> this is how you always dress. >> to celebrate five years. a little reverse. i got dressed up and wore a tie and she comes out like this. >> i remember seeing you the first day in manhattan, you were looking at all the tall buildings, you were waiting for "cats" tickets, new to the city. >> yeah, right. okay. >> she threw a hat up in the air. >> exactly. >> i cannot believe it has been

five years. i am very tired. i was too old when this thing started. we have the cohost of cnbc's "street signs" with us, weekdays at 2:00 eastern. did you write that? >> i did not write that. >> would you like to put any more details in about your show? >> also msnbc contributor mike barnicle. we've got a lot of stuff to talk about. >> we do. and i don't know why alex wants to do a commercial. >> they want to -- >> i'll let brian do it because he's a suck-up. >> brian actually has an iphone 5. >> if you guys really want to start with this story. >> no. you ordered one, right? >> yeah. it will be at my home today. >> how exciting. >> okay. mike barnicle is dressed up. >> materialistic americans is what you are. you don't need it but you have it. >> i've got a tie on. >> by the way, congratulations on the five years.

>> thank you so much. >> the first time i saw the show, i took three in the under. >> what does that mean? >> that means he didn't think we were going to make it. then again, this is a guy that wears a french tri-color. >> union jack. >> union jack. >> big story about the british pension system going broke in "the new york times," so i thought this was an appropriate -- and i wore this in your honor. >> we can talk about that -- >> and the race for the white house, we're getting new poll numbers out from three battleground states. >> according to the nbc news/"wall street journal"/marist poll, the president has reached 50% in all three states. in wisconsin obama leads romney 50-45. in colorado, the same, 50-45. and in iowa, it's 50-42. president obama won all three of these states in 2008. >> mike, the thing that we've been seeing for a very long time is this president unable to get to 50%. karl rove wrote about it a couple days ago. if you're an incumbent, you're

under 50%, sitting at 46%, 47%, that's just bad news. we are seeing some of the state polls popping up to 50%, he's still being dragged down by low approval in the south and other areas. wisconsin, 50, colorado, 50, iowa, 50. i mean, a horrible set of polls out this week for mitt romney. could change. but state by state by state, things aren't looking good. >> well, he's also at the edge of 50 in places like ohio. i think he's probably over 50 in michigan. i can't recall a candidate having a worse week, a seven-day period, a worst seven-day period than mitt romney. >> i think it's two weeks. >> i will say, picking up on what we talked a couple days ago, i think you can turn lemons into lemonade. i think the 47% blunder can turn into a win. draw the harsh line. >> exactly. >> and say, you know what? these were the words -- maybe i

didn't say it eloquently, the sentiment is right. this is an entitled country. it's a weak country. and things have got to change. take up the rage factor. i think there's something there. i really, really do. >> i really do, too. and ronald reagan, if he were around right now, margaret thatcher, other conservatives, would use this and be optimistic about it. he's been pessimistic about it. but use this to say listen, we're getting to a point where one out of two americans don't pay income taxes, don't contribute to the federal government, don't contribute to schools, don't contribute -- you could use that and say we have got to lift everybody up. i agree with you. here's another point, too, mika. >> yeah? >> and you watch. and everybody talks about how the news media is biased. and of course, it is biased. it's center-left. it's also biased for news stories. they are not going to allow mitt romney to lie on the mat between

september 20th, 21st and november. you're going to see a swing back, and you watch. if mitt romney can take one punch after another from his own fist, because he keeps hurting himself -- >> right. >> -- and this thing ties back up, you're going to have a lot of clenched people in the obama campaign because they're going to go god, this guys keeps blowing himself up, and we can't get rid of him. i'm saying if that happens, i've just followed these things -- we all have too much -- the press loves the comeback story. >> the investment is the story. >> yeah. >> that's the investment. the media's investment is the story. and it makes no sense for any news outlet to want to see this thing explode to a point where people are saying oh, it's already over on the 1st of october. you want the story. you want a race. >> the same thing happened in the primaries. they wouldn't let him win. they kept prepping next guy, next guy. >> a compilation of recent battleground polls from

nbc/"wall street journal" shows a lot of blue on a battleground map of key states. obama enjoys a seven-point lead in ohio. in florida, five in florida, two states that, of course -- >> i'll tell you, the fox news state-by-state polls were pretty devastating yesterday. romney has to win florida. you look at these states. if he doesn't win ohio, then he has to win withvirginia and iow. it is state by state by state pretty rough. but you know, mika, yesterday the president went and was interviewed on univision. >> mm-hmm. >> and there's some interesting things coming out of that. >> well, he went after mitt romney on those comments. he was asked about it, though. let's take a listen to what the president had to say. >> when you express an attitude that half the country considers itself victims, tha somehow

they want to be dependent on government, my thinking is maybe you haven't gotten around a lot. because i travel around the country all the time, and the american people are the hardest working people there. >> it was comments, though, about changing the tone in washington that also got his opponent's attention. take a listen. >> obviously, the fact that we haven't been able to change the tone in washington is disappointing. i think that i've learned some lessons over the last four years. and the most important lesson i've learned is that you can't change washington from the inside. you can only change it from the outside. >> hmm. well, mitt romney quickly pounced on those words, telling a crowd in sarasota, florida, that the president admits he's unable to break through the political gridlock and has effectively surrendered. >> the president today threw in the white flag of surrender again. he said he can't change

washington from inside. he can only change it from outside. well, we're going to give him that chance in november. he's going outside! >> so here we go. the obama campaign accused romney of taking the president's words wildly out of context. there's also evidence that romney used similar language when running for president back in 2008. >> i believe that at this time to change washington, it would be helpful to have somebody who comes with more private sector skill, experience outside washington. i don't think you change washington from the inside. i think you change it from the outside. >> yeah, he says almost the same identical thing. of course, though, brian, he wasn't president for four years. i don't think lbj or fdr would agree that you can't change washington from the inside. >> lbj had a force of will, though, he was probably a little bit stronger than most today. i do have a serious question for you political types. who's polled? who is polled? you know, you often hear it's people that are home during the

day. does the do-not-call list affect who picks up their phones? >> cell phones? >> are they blocked? lack of a land line. i do not know. if you talk about two pollsters, they'll say polls today are less clear than they have ever been. now, i'm a numbers guy, so i look at these numbers and i think, what's the real basis of how people feel? >> i mean, you look at trend lines. you certainly can look at trend lines over the past two weeks, and things obviously in all of the polls have been breaking one direction. that's what i would always look at. and whatever polls i'd look at, i would see where the same poll was a week ago, two weeks ago, a month ago and just look at my trend lines. >> but i've talked to maybe 20 of my friends, you know, similar age group, none of them have ever been called. >> "ok!." i don't know if we're going to make a point on polls here all morning, brian, but if we are, i'm extraordinarily bored. but i am more fascinated by what you -- can you show this to the camera, to the steady cam over here just to prove our point? romney rebounds.

>> what? >> they've already -- >> rebounds? what? >> they're already, dottie, creating that narrative. they're already creating that narrative. >> i love that point because otherwise for 46 days, how many days left, there's nothing to do, and there will be that flip. i'm still curious, though, about what everybody is waiting for in those first debates. i don't want to be cynical. i'm not quite sure what's going to happen there that's going to flip the switch. we've seen these guys. i know we haven't seen them together. give me a scenario -- for instance an actual back-and-forth that could actually happen there that you would go -- say one of them. >> here is actually where mitt romney blowing himself up, stepping on one land mine after another, helps him. it's like ronald reagan. ronald reagan, yes, ronald reagan, grit debater, great communicator, but mike, you remember, everybody thought ronald reagan was crazy. jimmy carter had been saying he was going to blow up the world.

ronald reagan just had to convince people that he was less like the mad hatter and more like grandpa. and the expectations were low. so romney's expectations are so low here that when he stands toe to toe with obama and beats him in a debate even by a little bit -- >> well, that's a strategy. lower the bar. >> -- then he wins. zmoo that's a whole new narrative for him. he's not going to get there. the clip we just showed of governor romney down in saras a sarasota, florida, basically saying the president just said washington can't be changed from within. we've got to get him out now. i just don't think people listen to that stuff. for the life of me, i don't understand why the governor and his campaign don't have one set speech basically saying here's how i'm going to put this country to work. one, two, three and four. >> brian, there's so many people that are hurting out there right now, but i'll tell you, you listen to these crowds, even after romney's had a horrific month and has just proven himself to be one of the most

incompetent candidates in recent american history, there are a lot of people showing up to these rallies, and they're cheering because they want america to go in a new direction. he still has the opportunity to pull this out. >> you know, i listen to you guys every morning when i can. and i hear the talk about romney blew himself up, this, that, whatever. i think it's different. i think that this week with the secret tapes, right, where you've got sort of the audio from loyola of the president saying this, whatever context you want to buy that in. then you've got romney over here. the beautiful thing to me is a centrist nonpolitical guy is now we know -- >> that wears british flags in his pocket. >> i just wanted to show that i can also be sophisticated. >> oh, lord. >> the point is this. we now know what the election is about. all right? this has been a demarcation line. there's no more questions. there's no more let's get here. it's this or this. what direction do you want to go in? that's it. it's a very clear choice. >> what is this when it comes to mitt romney? what have we learned over the past two weeks.

give me one sentence that encapsulates this. >> 107 million people receiving some form of government entitlement. >> food stamps -- >> that includes me. i am -- i received the mortgage interest tax deduction. i am a subsidized american. thank you, federal government. >> i agree with you 100%, and this goes back to what donny says. if the romney people knew how to work this, if romney knew how to work with this, it's a huge issue, especially after the past four years where we've added $1 trillion to our debt every single year. food stamps have gone from 30 million people on food stamps in 2008 to 46 million people on food stamps right now. you look, this aere are so many numbers. you look at the average household income from when barack obama was elected president to where he is today. there's the twist. instead of mitt romney going, those victims, those lazy, no-good victims, they're taking money from us.

if he's more like a reagan and says things are so bad that for a lot of people, it's not a recession out there. it's a depression. because they've been out of work for two, three years. they're having to rely on the federal government. and they hate that. i know they hate having to rely on the government. >> do they? do they hate it? i'd like to see mitt romney go in the middle of the most conservative town in the conservative county in america -- >> i'm saying, that's what the speech is. ronald reagan gives the speech. they hate being on government assistance, and that's why we have to work together to get new jobs, to build the economy. that sort of positive spin -- >> i'm also curious, how many people have said to you, yeah, what he said. yeah. to me, that's a base galvani galvanizing. and the two secret tapes, redistribute wealth, 47% entitled americans on the payroll is the difference.

i mean, it is -- that's what this election is. and that is the very simple thing, are you a believer of spreading it all out evenly, a little more fair play? are you a believer? we are top down? >> redistribution or individualism. >> that's what it is. and if i'm romney, because there's emotion. he has not stirred any emotion in this campaign. >> it hasn't worked. >> for that to work, you have to do a couple things. you have to -- romney can no longer use the class warfare card against the president of the united states. >> i heightened it up. >> if you listen to what he said in florida from that fund-raiser thing, he continually refers to "those people." "those people." that ain't going to fly. >> yeah. >> "those people." >> that was bad. >> like some alien tribe among us who are just lunging for food stamps. nobody wants to be born poor in the united states of america. >> yeah. >> there's a way to do it, but -- >> i can tell you my dad also, again, unemployed for 18 months. i'll guarantee you he didn't

like going to the mississippi unemployment office to get a check to keep gas in the car. >> you think people like going to food pantries? >> no. it was humiliating. he did it because he had to do it. but, again, though, i think, though, there is -- i think this is a line of demarcation. and i think it's a good opportunity. i told a good friend of ours in the romney campaign, i said, the tape's not your problem. the libyan press conference, you lost more independent voters with that stupidity than that tape. you could actually use the tape as a positive. >> let's get to massachusetts before we go to break. the first of four televised debates there took place last night with republican incumbent scott brown looking to defend his seat against democratic challenger elizabeth warren. it's a race that could determine which party controls the senate. new polling released this week shows just how tight the race is. the suffolk university survey hassle his beth warren leading brown by four points. but a boston poll has brown

leading by four right out of the gate, the candidates were asked about their opponent's character. brown immediately questioned warren's claim of being of native american heritage. >> professor warren claimed that she was a native american, a person of color. and as you can see, she's not. that being said, she checked the box. and she had an opportunity actually to make a decision through her career when she applied to penn and harvard, she checked the box claiming she was a native american. i don't know and neither do the viewers know whether, in fact, she got ahead as a result of that checking of the box. >> when i was growing up, these are the stories i knew about my heritage. i believed my mother and my father and my aunts and my uncles, and i never asked anybody for any documentation. i don't know any kid who did. but i did know this about my parents. that my mother and dad loved each other very, very much. and they wanted to get married. and my father's family said no. because my mother was part delaware and part cherokee. but you know, i never used it,

never used it for getting into college. never used it for getting into law school. and the people who have hired me for my jobs have all made clear, they didn't even know about it until long after i was hired. >> hours earlier there was a question of whether senator scott brown would make it to the debate. this is kind of awkward. suggesting the senate's voting schedule could cause him to stay in washington. majority leader harry reid interrupted floor speeches to suggest senator brown was looking for a way out. >> second, you could ask economists, most reputable economists including -- >> would my friend yield? >> certainly. >> majority leader. >> mr. president -- madam president, i'm so sorry. we have no more votes today. no more votes today. it's obvious to me what's going on. i've been to a few of these rodeos. it's obvious there's a big stall taking place. so one of the senators who doesn't want to be in a debate tonight won't be in the debate. well, he can't use the senate as

an excuse. there will be no more votes today. >> the senator from minnesota. >> thank you. that is too bad. >> i like al franken with the old afro. >> what is going on? >> seriously. i mean, can you imagine george mitchell being that petulant? >> no. >> or bob dole on the other side? >> chuck schumer, no. >> we wonder why washington's the way it is. there's just an anger, a meanness right there. just be sulbtle about it and jut dismiss it without making a snotty remark. you know what? i expect more from senate majority leaders than i do from back benchers in the chamber. again, george mitchell would have been up there and would have been very dignified about it. >> key phrase, senate majority leader. he was saying that to keep his job as majority leader, hoping

that elizabeth warren beats scott brown in massachusetts. >> there's a way to do it with a little bit of dignity. >> no kidding. >> does everybody on both sides in the house and the senate, do they have to claw everybody else's eyes out and be snippy? it's unbecoming of the position of senate majority leader. >> i think that's unbecoming of a senator. if i was watching that clip between brown and warren, to me brown is tone deaf. americans don't want to hear oh, you checked the box this way. you've shook people down. >> that would be like bringing up paul ryan's marathon time. it's silly. >> is that all you got? i looked at that clip -- that's not the way to play right now. >> i don't know. i don't know. >> it was his to use, but -- >> it's amazing it's that close. seriously, president obama's going to beat mitt romney in massachusetts by 30 points. >> yeah. >> and the fact that -- >> that's true. >> -- a republican senator has it that close at this stage -- >> they're two fantastic

candidates. we'll show more from that debate. coming up, michael bloomberg will be here, melody barnes, thomas friedman and grammy award winner carole king. >> wow! >> up next, mike allen with the top stories in the "politico playbook." but first, here's nbc meteorologist dylan dreyer with a check on the forecast. >> this friday we have a couple clouds across the northeast. trouble spots back across the great lakes. just a few scattered showers in that area. we also have heavier thunderstorms falling down through southern missouri and into northern arkansas. we had severe weather there earlier this morning. those will fizzle out as they spread south and east. also heavy rain falling across southern florida. miami going to see rain and thunderstorms today. another inch or two of rain possible across southern florida. temperaturewise, we're cool up in boston but warmer down through new york city and washington, d.c., thanks to the clouds this morning, we're in the lower 60s. we will top out with highs today in the 70s. 75 degrees, just about perfect

in new york city. the rest of the country should be a little seasonable. temperatures in the 70s most everywhere else as well. you are watching "morning joe" brewed by starbucks. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ that should do it. enjoy your new shower. [ door opens, closes ]

[ laughing ] [ laughing ] [ laughing ] [ laughing ] ♪ to meet the needs of my growing business. but how am i going to fund it? and i have to find a way to manage my cash flow better. [ female announcer ] our wells fargo bankers are here to listen, offer guidance and provide you with options tailored to your business. we've loaned more money to small businesses than any other bank for ten years running. so come talk to us to see how we can help. wells fargo. together we'll go far.

guess who i'm talking to? >> you know what? >> guess who i'm talking to? >> he works for a rival network. >> a rival network. chris, what's your number? >> he's a big vice president. hang up. i'm on the phone. tell him happy anniversary. >> 975 -- >> don't give his number on the air.

>> that spells porn. >> that's the 1-900 number he always calls. >> we're going to call you. see you soon, chris. >> it's time now to look at the "morning papers." >> the last four numbers spell porn. >> he's got to do something. "the washington post" this morning, the last of 33,000 american troops from president obama's surge are leaving afghanistan. the drawdown leads to about 68,000 troops still in the war zone. the return of u.s. forces to presurge levels comes amid an alarming string of so-called insider attacks with members of the afghan security forces turning their guns on the very people who have been training them for 11 years. >> the quote from the administration from the pentagon about how the surge has been a smashing success, just perverse. it was a disastrous policy, and things have only gotten worse, much, much worse. this was an absolute calamity. "the los angeles times," tim

pawlenty has been named ceo of financial services roundtable which lobbies for 100 of the nation's largest banking and financial companies. pawlenty's been critical of wall street in the past for taking bailouts and getting special deals. the former minnesota governor is going to leave his role in mitt romney's campaign to take the job. >> would that amount to a campaign shake-up? >> no. >> yeah. and this sunday's "parade" magazine features an interview with dennis quaid about the joys and challenges of fatherhood. >> speaking of joys, one of the great joys -- >> and challenges. >> -- over the past five years, on friday has been going to our dear, dear friend mike allen. mike allen! how are you doing today? >> happy friday. >> aww. >> happy anniversary friday, mike. what are you looking at right now? i know you guys have the story right now about how the president's been struggling with fund-raising against romney. but we hear this may be starting to change a little bit.

>> taking a turn? >> this is a real surprise, something that we didn't see coming. in the federal filings yesterday, and these filings are crazy at this point with millions of donors, the obama filing yesterday was 170,000 pages. but if you add those pages up, the story they tell is that for the first time, the obama side, if you count in the party, if you count in the super pacs, is ahead of republicans. so far this year through august, the obama campaign, the democratic party, its super pac has now raised more than the romney campaign. the republican party. its super pac. they raised more in august. and they have more cash on hand. >> so what's the big explanation, mike? because we've been hearing the same story throughout the year that obama's doing poorly, romney's doing much better. is it because romney's doing so bad, or is it because the obama supporters are coming home?

>> yeah. no, there's the excitement from the convention was a big part of it. they got some both big donors off the sidelines, and it sort of juiced their small-donor program once again. they have more small donations than the republican side. now, republicans have hoarded a lot of money for tv in october, but i think people are going to start asking, is that money really valuable now? would that money have been better spent defining their candidate earlier? >> you know, what i don't understand, mike, is we keep hearing how much money romney has and how he's going to be able to flood the airwaves. and yet the president's been flooding the airwaves over the past month, and romney's actually been behind in the number of ads that he's run. and here we are in september with him bleeding support in key swing states. >> yeah. and the campaign says that's deliberate. they couldn't spend a lot of this money until the convention because a lot of this money was

general election. so their hands were tied a little bit that way. they made a deliberate decision to go dark during the two weeks of the conventions at the same time that the obama campaign spent $20 million. and it was right after that that all those swing state polls started moving. so people are certainly going to second-guess that. people are going to second-guess whether in october, if you're like us in battleground virginia, if you're in ohio, if you're in florida, you're going to see such a glut of ads. another big story that people will follow up today, in these filings, you see that the romney campaign paid bonuses, as much as $25,000 to nine staffers, some of whom were making $165,000 a year, got bonuses for their great work. >> for what? >> for their fantastic work on the campaign. >> i'm sorry, what? no, really, mike. are you serious? >> it's not easy to lose the advantage that he had. i mean, that takes a lot of

productivity. >> you put me in a stadium with no people. here's $25,000. >> you have clint eastwood talking to a chair in primetime. >> or having a hastily put together press conference at 10:00 p.m. here's $25,000. >> i don't really get that. >> i think the strategy of saving it over the past four weeks is right. >> mike. >> the media is going to flip. >> might work. mike allen. >> you're crazy. >> thank you very much. >> washington in the baseball playoffs for the first time in 79 years, that's the real buzz here. >> we love you. >> that's exciting. >> have a good weekend. >> mike, you were saying that was crazy, the strategy, going dark? >> pro football back, the world series, people sick of campaigns already, commercials already. i mean, you've got -- please. >> you say october 3rd, it starts, and if there is going to be a switch, it's the last four weeks. i actually think it's the right move. >> we've got sports straight ahead with mike barnicle about that washington baseball team

and the new york football team. we shall return. you've got to get this polish girl another layer. >> i was hoping that wasn't your golf cart taking off because i know you have a present for me. >> she needs a bracer. >> we've been asking since 6:00 a.m. for some vodka. >> yeah. >> hey, louis, go get vodka, louis. >> look, there's some vodka over there somewhere. that's what i'm told. >> happy five-year anniversary, "morning joe." >> five years of "morning joe," what can i say? it is must-see tv every morning. i'm just happy that they have me on. ♪ ♪ [ multiple sounds making melodic tune ] ♪

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♪ welcome back. >> welcome back to "morning joe." >> did you see chris? >> yeah, yeah. you shouldn't call chris on the air. that's your little partner. >> i didn't. i didn't. you just did, though. >> do we still have the spank wire? you could call him. >> hey, t.j.? >> yeah? >> let's keep the picture up. that's awful! we need -- >> if i knew what that was, i would wonder how you would know what that is. >> he's wearing what i'm

wearing. he just called and said that i was wearing an awful outfit, but look what he's wearing. >> he's wearing the same damn thing. >> i beg to differ, spanky. >> the ugly years, as they call them on the cd compilation. >> we're still in them. >> driving through tunnels every morning at 3:00 in the morning. let's do sports. >> you want some sports? and then we'll get the spank wire going? okay. >> chris on the phone. >> new york football giants last night down in carolina against the panthers. giants all banged up. but a couple of unknowns in the lineup helped the giants put up a dominant performance down there. fifth play of the game, andre brown filling in for ahmad bradshaw takes the handoff, breaks a tackle, sprints up the sideline 31 yards. there he goes. and we have a touchdown! he's been cut by five different nfl teams including the panthers and giants, but he scored last night. same drive, third and three. eli manning finds tight end martellus bennett in the end zone, 14-yard score.

giants, 7-0. they wouldn't look back from there. second quarter, giants up 17-0. cam newton back to pass. huh-uh. ossi umenyiora, nine-yard loss, finished with just six yards rushing and threw three interceptions. fourth quarter, andre brown in from a yard out helpsment giath giants put it away. giants, 36, panthers, 7. baseball. the reds become the first team to make the 2012 postseason with a 5-3 win over the cubbies yesterday. the reds celebrated without manager dusty baker. he's out of action after being hospitalized earlier in the week with an irregular heartbeat. the reds' magic number is down to two, just two games to win and they win the division. and good news for baseball fans in washington, d.c. for the first time since 1933, i clearly remember it, a baseball team from washington will be in the postseason. >> mike, is it okay for me to

keep calling them the senators? >> yeah, absolutely. ted williams, washington senators. >> it's the senators. they're the senators. >> they won last night. they beat the dodgers 4-1. they clinch a playoff, first time since the expos, the old expos, made the playoffs in '81. this year's performance marks an incredible turnaround. the nationals lost 100 games in both 2008 and 2009. please go to these games in washington, folks. support baseball. >> okay. up next, josh green from bloomberg businessweek. he's going to join us. we might activate the spank wire. >> now i am officially concerned about you. >> she's very concerned about you for reasons we'll ask off air. make sure you check out our blog. mojo.msnbc.com where we dug up some of our favorite memories and guests over the past five decades. it seems that way. plus, if you ever want to know more about the show's

director, t.j., who wants to know anything more about t.j., you can get the exclusive behind-the-scenes manifesto to see what it takes to make "morning joe" happen every morning. we'll be right back. ♪ these are the days

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♪ home of the brave. ♪ it's where fear goes unwelcomed... ♪ and certain men... find a way to rise above. this is the land of giants. ♪ guts. glory. ram. live shot of capitol hill, washington, d.c., at 45 past the hour. welcome back to "morning joe." joining us now for the must-read opinion pages, josh green. josh, good to have you on board this morning. >> i thought we were going to have bloomberg here. >> bloomberg's coming.

>> i'm the understudy. he wanted to sleep in. >> nice to have you here. >> $25 billion. >> good to be back. been on the road. >> how can you be an understudy? does this mean you're going to be worth $5 billion? >> that's what i'm aiming for. >> trying to get him to run for president, i said a guy that's worth $18 billion should run. and he stopped me. he goes -- i said, 19? >> i stick around in hopes that some of that will come my way. so far no luck. >> no luck. so he's got this really cool article out. >> you write about what mitt romney got wrong about the 47%. what did he get wrong? we're pretty clear on how it was bad politically. >> he got just about everything wrong. the point i wanted to make in the piece, in addition to undermining romney's own campaign, in addition to undermining people who don't work and don't pay income taxes, he underlined the long and proud conservative tradition of trying to fight poverty through

government plans. earned income tax credit, child tax credit, two big reasons why people -- some people -- don't wind up paying income tax. and by treating them with contempt instead of reagan's sunny optimism, i think he undermines a lot of good work. >> earned income tax credit. >> it originally came from russell long, democratic senator, was put into being republican president gerald ford, was greatly expanded by ronald reagan and again by bill clinton. until five, ten years, both parties agreed on, hugely successful, lifted millions of people out of poverty but now is being twisted around and used to kind of portray people as, like, lazy, shiftless moochers. >> okay. that's a perfect segue to brian. >> you're half right. >> only half. >> you're half right. >> how's that? >> i mean, and i love your writing, by the way, but i have to disagree with you on half of it, okay? i agree with the point you made

about -- >> which half? the suspense is killing me. >> is that what we need to remember -- and maybe it's not a disagreement -- is that 500,000 households -- i hate to use numbers and facts -- 500,000 households that make $100,000 a year paid no federal net income tax in 2009. so i think yes, when you talk about the poor and the elderly who are not being taxed, that's one side of the 47%. i wonder if romney was going after the other half, which is the family in iowa or wherever it is making $100,000, which is not bad money there, but because of all the deductions offered to them through mortgage interest, kids, whatever it is -- >> farm subsidies. >> farm subsidies, they're paying zero, right? they're paying zero. and i think that if people -- and i poll people all the time on this stuff. >> can you talk more about polls? >> if you ask people what they're actually paying, 95% of the people i talk to think they're paying a lot more than they are. >> i think that's right. and i don't think we disagree either. there's certain -- >> i know, i'm trying to ratchet

it up because they're chatting over here. >> but, i mean, jesus, what a terrible way to make that point if you're mitt romney on the hidden tape. >> i agree. >> what he ought to have said was one reason people aren't paying income taxes is they aren't working. if you elect me president, i'll get them back to work. >> here's what peggy noonan writes in "the wall street journal." she talked about him needing an intervention. >> he does. >> romney needs a new ceo. the romney campaign has to get turned around. this week i called it incompetent not only because i was being polite, i really meant "rolling calamity." the candidate can't run the show. he can't be the ceo of the campaign and be the candidate. the candidate is out there every day standing for things, fighting for a hearing, trying to get the american people to listen, agree and follow. that's where his energies go. on top of that, if he's serious, he has to put in place a guiding philosophy that somehow everyone on the plane picks up and internalizes.

he shouldn't be debating what statistic to put on slide four of the powerpoint presentation. he has to learn to trust others, many others. >> donny deutsch, this is devastatingly accurate. >> unless those others just suck. >> no, the more we see this romney camp, the more we realize this starts with him. >> it does. >> and you can see -- and i know you see this more than anybody else because you've seen it in companies. you've seen it in political campaigns. this romney campaign has all the markings now. and it is just ugly and evidence of a control freak at the top that's not letting his people run the show. >> well, i love peggy. i would twist one thing that she said. it's not that they need a ceo. he needs to have the two attributes that a great ceo has. number one -- and she touched on this -- an overall vision, number two, surround yourself with the right four or five people. let it go. that's what a ceo does. even a company the size of

general electric, it's here's the vision. and i make the right four hires. go. he's not doing either of those. >> isn't this interesting that everyone was talking about how candidate obama had no business experience. and now the person with the most business experience can't seem to break out of the mold that just doesn't work. and a lot of ceos have this mold. they're not dynamic people. >> he actually did it during the campaign but not during his presidency. he is not listening to people. he's got the vision and he's very clear communicating it. so neither one of them have subscribed to the ronald reagan school of management, surround yourself with the brightest people and let them go. >> listen to them. >> you're exactly right. it's terrible management. terrible management on the campaign for mitt romney, josh, and it's directionless. it is directionless right now. there's no overarching -- >> that's the problem you see. every two days they're going to reboost, recast. the latest headline i saw said the campaign needs more mitt. every day he's sort of stepping

in it. >> you need big overarching vision. the candidate has to lay that out at the beginning of the campaign, hire the right four people, and then say, guys,inglies, teguys,ingly gals, tell me what to do, show me where my mark is, show me my speech. i'm going to do four of these things today. i don't have time to be worrying about the details of x, y and z. i've told you what i want. give it to me or leave! that's how you do it! and romney's not doing it, and that's why he's losing. >> it's bad. josh green, thank you. we'll look for your piece. >> josh, thank you and good luck being an understudy to a $25 billion man. >> bloomberg businessweek. more "morning joe" in just a moment. >> i want some of that money. >> yeah. look at this collar. i mean, you're a mess. where's your tie? this is dressed to the nines? >> i couldn't do a tie this early in the morning.

>> turn around. >> i've got an extra one in my bag. jonathan, will you get him a tie? >> seriously, you're not fit to go on television. >> i couldn't find my orange this morning. it was too early. but i had one. >> let's take what we can get. this is progress. >> you have a white spot on your gut. you might want to take care of it. >> even worse. >> updating you now on the sewgate. where are we on this? how we doing? >> it's good. it's going to be gone. >> is that a shirt worth saving? >> it's so frayed that i'm actually ripping it. >> we'll get you a new one after the show. >> it cost $11. >> yeah, costco? that was me still taking insulin

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♪ when we come back, former white house director of domestic policy, melody barnes is here. we'll also bring in "new york times" columnist thomas friedman. >> the spanks line? >> i think we're going to do that but apparently he's really busy at the top of the hour. whatever. you know what? he never had his priorities right. he was never committed. >> where's chris now? >> whatever. and in a few minutes, mayor michael bloomberg. we'll be right back. ♪ [ male announcer ] introducing a reason to look twice.

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♪ for those who have abandoned open, we'll restore hope, and we'll welcome them into a great national crusade to make america great again. >> let it be our cause to see that child grow up strong and secure embraced by her challenges but never struggling alone. >> i think it's a -- >> oh, my god. i think it's starting. >> what?

what's starting? >> you know what's starting. you just saw it and you thought it, too. >> i love them. you think they could find that? >> no. come on. it's bad and it's not whatever. and i'm just going to stop because i'm not going to put you in a position of agreeing with me. >> i would never agree with you. >> yes, you would. mike barnicle and donny deutsch are still with us. and joining us on set, former direct are of the white house domestic policy council and ceo of melody barnes solutions, melody barnes with solutions this morning. and in washington, nbc news chief white house correspondent and political director and host of "the daily rundown," chuck todd. >> good morning. >> and also "new york times" columnist thomas friedman. he's co-author of "that used to be us." and he's participating in the library of congress's national book festival this weekend on the national mall in washington. >> tom, i'd like to start with you. the lead story this morning in

politico is entitled "world no longer swoons for obama." and i want to read you a quote from candidate obama about the effect that his election would have on the world. i truly believe the day i'm inaugurated not only does the country look at itself differently but the world looks at america differently. if i'm reaching out to the muslim world, they understand that i've lived in a muslim country, and i may be a christian, but i also understand their point of view. and he goes on to talk about how -- this isn't where he says that he's going to stop the seas from rising and stop chicken weed from growing in our backyard, but he does say that the muslim world will understand us a little bit better. you look 3 1/2 years later, it just doesn't look that way. things look just as ugly today as they did 3 1/2 years ago across the middle east, maybe uglier. >> well, joe, that part of the world is in a huge transition from authoritarian regimes which

we've tacitly backed for so many years to, you know, some kind of consensual politics or no politics at all. we're really dealing with failed or failing or states in transition. and i wouldn't envy any president. ronald reagan or barack obama for having to deal, you know, with that part of the world at this time. it's going to be very, very difficult. they're going through a really traumatic transition. and if you think we have weak leadership in the west, you see nothing to the weak heardship they have in that part of the world right now. >> but tom, isn't it fascinating the arrogance of american presidents -- and i'm certainly not just talking about this american president -- every american president that goes to sleep at night thinking, i'm going to solve the middle east crisis, and i'm going to get a nobel peace prize and bring israelis and -- they are all arrogant. they all think they can do what hasn't been done in 3,000 years, and it always blows up in their face. >> you know, joe, it's a very good point.

i have a saying about the middle east, and that's that the middle east only puts a smile on your face when it starts with them, okay? camp david peace treaty actually started with them. oslo peace process started with them. anbar uprising in iraq started with them. when it starts with them, we can provide the catering and at the margins be really helpful. when it doesn't start with them, we cannot make any progress that they themselves don't want to make, and that's really the difficulty right now. >> mr. friedman, i would suggest you not tell dr. brzezinski that he just provided the catering. he would call you stunningly superficial. >> oh, my. >> chuck todd from the middle east to middle america, mitt romney and barack obama going back and forth. but you look at the more state polls in swing states that mitt romney is falling further and further behind. the president keeps reaching the

50% threshold that's eluded him for so long. in wisconsin, paul ryan's home state, in colorado, a state that i still believe will end up going for mitt romney by a couple of votes. and in iowa, a state that romney has to win if he loses ohio, a state i just don't see romney winning, and all three states, the president's at 50%. >> no, look. this was a rough week when you look at romney. and when we were in the field, we were in the field during the three days of 47%, if you will. >> hey, and by the way, chuck, while you're talking, we're going to show some other state polls from earlier this week. >> right. >> you guys also have the fox news polls. again, all bad news for mitt romney. go ahead. >> no, and what you saw in these polls is mitt romney's unfavorable rating was higher than his favorable rating. last week in our three we had released, florida, virginia and ohio, that was only the case in one state, ohio. and we know that ohio's become a special problem for the romney campaign. but now you see it seems as if

this bad week, that's where you saw romney's numbers get poor. it's not any lower than where his national number is in colorado and wisconsin. iowa is another special case. i think iowa and ohio, boy, they are moving out of toss-up, if you will. we're keeping ohio a toss-up. i don't know if iowa belongs in toss-up anymore. >> is there a way forward if mitt romney loses ohio and iowa which certainly is looking likely right now, is there a pathway to 270 if he loses both of those states? >> yes. and it's called winning every single other toss-up state. so that's wisconsin, colorado, new hampshire, nevada, virginia, north carolina and florida. he's got to win them all. >> yeah. >> all right. so melody barnes, there are some holes that can be poked in president obama's campaign if you look at the state of the economy and a message that i think the romney campaign may have some luck on, whether it's right or wrong. but mitt romney yesterday

pounced on something the president said. and basically accused him of being able to break through partisan gridlock and surrendering. is that something that could be a problem given the fact that we have witnessed gridlock in washington. we have seen things completely stop in terms of getting to solutions. >> well, hence melody barnes solutions. >> hence melody. >> a couple of different things. one, mitt romney was saying oh, the white flag of surrender. the reality is that the president spoke about this earlier when he started his campaign in 2008. in fact, mitt romney said the same thing when he was campaigning in 2008. >> right. >> that change doesn't come from washington. change comes to washington. the president is reflecting the tough battles that he's been through with health care and other issues. but he was also making the point that he got big things done like health care because the american people stood up. he got big things done like don't ask, don't tell because the american people stood up and pushed back. and it is that coalition of the

american president linking arms with the will and the desire and the aspiration, the optimism of the american people to get things done that will actually break through and make that change. so i don't call that the white flag of surrender. i call that the reality of the american people engaging and the president also using his leadership to reflect that will to get things done. >> donny? >> i want to go back to the polls. a stunning number in the last couple of weeks is the shift in obama's ability to fix the economy, the economy numbers which was basically, to me, mitt romney's only play seems to have gone away, to me that's the stunning underbelly of the shift. >> i think it's a combination of two things. one is the democratic convention, and they made this whole focus using bill clinton, using obama. it's saying hey, you know, things may not feel good, but this is the right path forward. it may take a while, but this is the right path forward. so they got some of that and moved some independents. the other is, you know, every two days, the romney campaign is

chasing another -- is chasing another tail, if you will. so for instance, today this morning they're like, okay, they're going to come out and hit the president on this change thing. on one hand it's a good line at a rally, but it's not a message. and it's all of a sudden they're trying to make it their message of the next couple of days. they tried to make redistribution their message of the day. you know, i think it's been six weeks, seven weeks, eight weeks pre-olympics that mitt romney had a sustained push on the economy, on housing, the whole sort of enchilada of what i think a lot of us expected. sfwoo what campaign does that remind you of? it sounds so much like 2008 and mccain. >> mccain. no, it feels like they're chasing news cycles. >> so much. >> i want to make a point. the president said outside forces on health care. the outside forces i remember on health care didn't help get health care passed. the outside forces on health care are why health care is unpopular today. but anyway. it was an interesting little

revisionist history by the president. >> the american hospital association, big pharma, they all struck deals behind closed doors in the white house. >> yeah. but the president was also reflecting going traveling around the country and people saying we've got to get that done. i heard it over and over and over during the '08 campaign. >> how's that working for you? >> it's working quite well. we're talking about millions of people who have preventative care, kids who now have health care insurance which actually ticked the health care uninsured rate down. i go on and on, and it will continue to increase the popularity because of that. >> i think it scares the hell out of business owners, and it's freezing a lot of money on the side, but that's a debate that we'll have this year during the campaign. i want to read, mike barnicle, from "the new york times" a great piece by tom friedman. "look in the mirror." i don't like to see anyone's faith insulted, but we need to make two things very clear, more clear than president obama's team has made them. one is that an insult, even one

as stupid and ugly as anti-islam video on youtube that started all of this does not entitle people to go out and attack embassies and kill innocent diplomats. and second, before demanding an apology from our president, the young egyptians, tunisians, libyans, yemenis, pakistanis, afghans and sudanese who have been taking to the streets might want to look in the mirror or just turn on their own televisions. they might want to look at the chauvinistic bile that is pumped out by their own media. and may i say sometimes state-run media. on satellite television stations and websites or sold on sidewalk bookstores outside of mosques, insulting shiites, jueews, christians and anyone else who is not a fundamentalist muslim. there are people in their countries for whom hating the other has become a source of identity and a collective excuse

for failing to realize their own potential. mike barnicle, tom friedman highlights and circles the sheer and utter hypocrisy of these people in the street. dpl complaining about a video. >> well, tom, as you know better than most, i mean, the world and much of the united states and our politics have been consumed when it comes to foreign affairs over the past couple of weeks about the pending dangers and the threat of nuclear war, israel and iran, you know, to go and take out the nuclear reactors. and yet is it not a fairly accurate assessment to say that the teeny masses of young people in places like egypt and libya where the median age is 17 or 18 years of age, largely illiterate, many of them, or perhaps not, but largely unemployed, they define hope as perhaps maybe the end of the week, getting to the end of the week. is that not an equal threat to

our stability internationally? >> mike, there's no question about it. you know, 60% of the arab world is under the age of 25. >> wow! >> and 60%. and they're growing up in countries -- there's a famous climate scientist who's passed away, but she had a saying about climate change which also applies to the muslim world. we have exactly enough time starting now. they have exactly enough time starting now. to basically get in place the right education policies, economic reforms that will enable them to catch up with the world. i was just in china two weeks ago. and when you see that china which was behind egypt 50 years ago, china's so far ahead of egypt now, egypt can't see china. you look at the chinese olympics -- i always thought that in a subtle way the chinese olympics were one of the things that contributed to the arab awakening. you're a young arab sitting in cairo, you're watching those chinese olympics, and you'd be saying to yourself, we couldn't do that in 20 years.

and that's what's so much behind the anger, the humiliation. but what we've got to do, i think where we can make a contribution is we've got to get out of the business of selling these people arms. we gave another $1.3 billion in arms to egypt, a country where 56% of the women can't read, okay? and we've got to get into the business of partnering with them, partnering with them for how to build schools, how to build the tools so the young people can thrive in the modern world and not feel that anger and humiliation. >> chuck todd, i'm wondering if you look at the press clips that keep coming out, and you look at the conservatives that keep going after mitt romney. i'm seeing peggy noonan today saying that she had called the romney campaign incompetent but only because i was being polite. i really meant, quote, rolling calamity. and by the way, it is a rolling calamity.

because there are a lot of us that see, with this rolling calamity, not only the collapse of the republican presidential candidate but something that will hurt house candidates, senate candidates and damage the conservative movement for the next four years. any sense that karl rove and the big-money people are starting to lean in on romney and say hey, this is -- because daniel heninger wrote about it yesterday saying this isn't about you anymore, it's about the rest of us, and you're really hurting the cause. >> we know that's what the romney campaign has been really worried about behind the scenes over the last week. they've done these donor finance calls to try to calm people down. hey, don't abandon us yet, et cetera. but i'll tell you, the pressure on him in that first debate, you point out, it's less about even him getting back. he's got to get back in the presidential to give the republicans a fighting chance in the senate. look at wisconsin.

the shift to obama has come at the same time as there's been a shift to tammy baldwin in that senate race. she's even or slightly ahead in just about every poll that's come out of wisconsin this week over tommy thompson. well, that's a democratic seat that republicans thought wasn't in the bank but thought they were going to count on it on election day. that's an issue. and look, tommy thompson himself said this. he was quoted as saying, you know, your presidential ticket starts looking weak, it affects everybody down the ballot. and then all of a sudden the senate, they can't get it. i'm still shocked the republicans couldn't get it last time. and look at them now. >> it's unbelievable. mika, you go back to 1980, ronald reagan swept jimmy carter to the side. and when that happened, all of the giants, the democratic giants in the senate from burch buy to george mcgovern, on and on, they all got swept out of office. right now you've got scott brown fighting for his political life, running a perfect campaign for a

republican. and the worst things get -- >> i can't figure out that -- >> the worse things get for mitt romney, the worse they will be for scott brown, for tommy thompson. this is bad. >> yeah, it is. and it is a snapshot right now in terms of where the campaigns sit, and there are definitely challenges ahead, would you agree that the president certainly has some narratives to overcome squarely looking at the state of the economy where there are so many people hurting who may just vote for change just to get out of the situation we're in? >> well, the campaign has always known that would be a tough challenge, but i think one of the things when you break open the polls that we're talking about, the romney campaign has been pushing, pushing, pushing on this economy message. but the obama campaign is holding about even with that. when it comes to people -- a president who cares about the issues that i care about, people are responding to that and supporting and leaning in support of the president. i think the 47% remark just underscored that and highlighted that for people. and that's why we're seeing this

downtick in vulnerability and a downtick in concern. >> you ask her a question, solutions. solutions come out of her mouth. >> a light bulb just came over my head. >> 60% of the arab world under 25. 56% of the women in egypt, i believe you said, cannot read. and you indicate that we should partner with these people. because this is tv, you now have 25 seconds to tell us how we can partner with this part of the world. >> my -- ts a good question, mike. and mine would be we've got to get out of the business and get into a race to the top with them. put out money that says we're ready to partner with you to build science and technology schools. you've got to put up the plan. you've got to be ready to staff it. you show us you're ready, willing and able, we'll help fund it. otherwise we're not in this business anymore. no more arms. no more arms for people whose only predators are literacy and

poverty. >> have the smile put on their face first, in other words. >> exactly. >> and let dr. brzezinski provide the catering later. >> exactly. >> oh, my god. dude, you're in trouble. you are in trouble. >> let's have them on together and see how it goes. >> yes, anytime. actually, he would agree with you 100%. i remember one time a couple years ago somebody saying oh, when bush was president saying oh, the pakistanis, they look at american values, and they're so upset because of what we're doing, and they want to be like us. and he was, like, this is a pulitzer prize winner that he was talking to. he goes, you fool. they do not want to be like us. you are being an arrogant american. >> i think he call it had a stupid concept. >> it's a stupid concept, and it's got to start there. it's got to start there. >> thomas friedman, thank you very much. you can check out tom's -- you can check out tom at the library

of congress. >> check him out, baby. and you can check out chuck todd at 9:00 on "the daily rundown." what do you have on today, chuck? >> mr. axelrod, among others. >> oh, good. >> more on the polls. you know. we'll see what he has to say about how -- what happened to that hope and change business, right? >> all right. hey, speaking of hope, who do the canes play this weekend? >> georgia tech, man. i'm not looking forward to that triple option. i think it could be ugly. it could be -- they may give up 500 yards rushing. i hope not. we'll see. >> melody barnes, thank you. >> hey, nationals. that's what matters. yeah. natitude. got to jump on that bandwagon. >> singer and songwriter, friend of "morning joe." >> look who's back! >> she's talking to the mayor. >> the mayor is telling her how to write a song. when we come back, new york city mayor michael bloomberg here with a special

announcement. keep it right here. >> i hope he has money. i need money. while we're talking about this, tim. chuck todd. chuckie t. >> come on, chuckie t. the torch has been passed to a new generation. >> i'm just a stunt double. for more than 116 years, ameriprise financial has worked for their clients' futures. helping millions of americans retire on their terms. when they want. where they want. doing what they want. ameriprise. the strength of a leader in retirement planning. the heart of 10,000 advisors working with you one-to-one. together for your future. ♪

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now, are we ready? >> we're ready. >> are you going to count down? >> mika, count down. >> three, two, one, do it. >> all right, everybody! thank you, mr. mayor. >> fifth anniversary. i don't think anybody thought you'd make the fifth day. >> that was amazing. >> that was mayor michael bloomberg. >> what do you notice about that clip? >> that we have aged. >> we all look younger -- look older. >> we were happy then. >> we're older. mayor, you look so much younger today. >> that's because you pay me so much for my job, $1 a year. >> see, that's why. >> money is the root of all evil, somebody said.

so i don't have to worry about it. you probably wonder why i'm here today. to talk about the middle east, we could talk about the fiscal cliff. >> sure. >> we could talk about the mets. >> absolutely. >> and their stellar record. >> talk about donny's house. >> we could talk about donny's house. >> his master bedroom. >> i don't know about that, but we're neighbors. we live around the corner. we come from the same place. we could talk about golf. that's not why i'm here. >> really? >> i am here because this is the fifth anniversary of your show. >> no way. is it money? >> no, it's not money. >> damn! >> i knew you'd want that. this is a proclamation. >> look at this! i love it! okay? i'm going to read the proclamation. >> fantastic. >> i'm sure all your viewers are thrilled. if i'd have known you would survive five years, i'm not sure where to cut the ribbon. proclamation. whereas five years "morning joe" has brewed up a blend of opinion in a cable news world where partisan warfare is the norm.

this show has broken the mold. every morning live from rockefeller center viewers can expect to hear insights and arguments that elevate our national dialogue and influence national politics. and that's just from listening to mika and joe's hard-headed approach to the tough issues has won him fans in both parties among millions of independents including this one. whereas americans across the country get up way too early to hear willie geist and michael barnicle join joe and mika in jousting with guests and their guests are always among the most interesting and innovative leaders in the land especially that handsome young northeastern mayor. no, i'm not talking about cory booker. they tackle the toughest issues, and they do so with both honesty and humor. whereas more shows are filming here in new york city than ever before, but only one has refined what a political talk show can be, "morning joe," and i congratulate the show's cast, contributors and hardworking crew. therefore, i, michael bloomberg,

mayor of the city of new york, that's the part i like, in recognition of morning joe's importance to the political discourse in our city and country, and in celebration of its fifth anniversary do hereby proclaim september 21st as "morning joe" day signed by michael r. bloomberg. >> that's big stuff. take it. take it, morning mika. thank you so much. >> you think it's the only day, but i'm heading off to barclays. >> no, this is our day. >> happy "morning joe" day, everybody. >> this has never happened. >> never happened. >> stunning. >> so we thank you so much for this. and let's go ahead and add a little bit to the public discourse here. >> it's cute. >> i want to talk really quickly about washington, something that you've talked about a good bit. we had thomas friedman on before. but we're heading towards a cliff. >> and we'll kick the can down the road. >> a fiscal cliff. you've got republicans that don't want to do certain things, democrats that don't want to do certain things.

i know you decided not to run this year as an independent. you're a young man. you codo it four years from now. but isn't it going to take somebody from the outside to force both parties to strike a deal that could save this country? >> probably not. probably it will evolve. we've gone through the cycle before where there are fringe groups in each party that pull the party to the extremes and eventually they face the voters a second or third time, and people are tired of that argument. i think it doesn't work and throw them out, and you sort of regress to the mean would be, i guess, the technical term. this is a two-party country. very hard to see how a third party would ever have any great impact or be able to garner power in the congress. and we will kick the can down the road. and when you say things are terrible in america, there are plenty of problems, but it's a relative world. so when you say nobody's going to buy our debt, whose debt are they going to buy? nobody's going to move to

america anymore. where else are they going to go? we are still the place that when people vote with their feet, they come here. and it's a disgrace that neither of the candidates are willing to face the big issues. but that's a creation of the press and the gerrymandering where you can't give specific answers and still get elected. and the whole game is you get elected, and then if you're a good leader, you lead. and if you're a bad leader, you don't lead. but it has little to do with what you said before. and you see both of them. i'm sympathetic to them that if they were to explicitly say what they're going to do on immigration, health care, we all want somebody to balance the budget except i don't want to hear that you're going to cut my benefits and raise my taxes, and that's in the end what has to happen. so this goes on. it's a game. it feeds the news media. it gives us something to talk about. and in the end, i think people look at the two candidates, and they don't listen to any of these issues. they're just in their heart of

hearts, i like him or her. i don't like him or her. >> mr. mayor, hearing that you have to go on and give a proclamation for a bubble guppies day -- >> the opening of the barclays center in brooklyn. major league -- >> best mayor in the history of new york. >> ever. >> i think you might be. >> thank you so much. >> congratulations. >> keep working on the junk food and sugary drinks. i love it. >> we want a fourth term. coming up next, a preview of "meet the press" with david gregory. also "washington post" columnist eugene robinson joins the conversation. and mr. mayor, thank you again so much. >> congratulations. it's a great accomplishment on the five. >> keep it right here on "morning joe." now, that's what i call a test drive. silverado! the most dependable, longest lasting, full-size pickups on the road. so, what do you think?

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35 past the hour. beautiful shot of the sun coming up over washington. a live look at the white house. here with us now from washington, the moderator of "meet the press," david gregory. and also with us, pulitzer prize-winning columnist and msnbc political analyst, eugene robinson. gentlemen, good morning. >> happy "morning joe" day.

>> "happy morning joe" day. >> i was mentioning the show was on, and somebody said, that david gregory can dance. >> really? >> there was a video in the last few days of you dancing? i have trouble digesting at that moment, but what was that about? >> he's got moves. >> you know, this is just part of my life, you know? >> where was the dancing video? >> well, last friday i was in for matt lauer on the "today" show, and they had psy, "gangnam style." and i had to get busy. >> they had the david gregory interpretive dance hour on the "today" show. >> david gregory can dance. it's true. i've seen david gregory dance. >> really? >> in dance settings, and he's really good. but on "gangnam style," david gregory was not -- was not at his best. >> wow. >> this is just my opinion. >> my goodness. and this comes from gene gene the dancing machine. remember that?

>> i once was invited to a smooch on the cheek in a dance setting. >> i just threw up in my mouth. >> we've been showing polls, a bevy of polls have been coming out from the swing states, and it doesn't matter whether you're looking at the polls that we have this morning or the fox news polls, whether you're looking at iowa or florida or ohio, the news is not good for mitt romney. and it's pretty darn great for the obama team. they're finally hitting 50% in states like wisconsin, colorado, iowa, getting close in ohio, florida. what are you -- what are you hearing inside the romney campaign on how they turn this around? >> well, a couple of key points. i mean, you talk about a state like ohio where people close to the romney campaign are saying yes, he can win there. it's going to be a lot harder now. no republican's ever won the presidency without winning ohio. that in and of itself is so, so

difficult. you look at a state like virginia which is so important. and you look at that gender gap that the "washington post" poll shows, the advantage for president obama, the advantage for tim kaine. that is something that romney has to sort of live with because of a lot of the politics, republican politics that have gone on in that state over the issue of abortion. so this becomes really, really difficult. and joe, as you've been talking about and others have as well, since he got the nomination, has there been a period when mitt romney's had some real momentum in this race? we keep talking about -- everyone i talk to says look, these are the right conditions for him to be running in for him to be the nominee, and he has yet to really harness that and build real momentum. we keep talking about rehabilitative work he wanted to do in his convention. he has yet to really hit his stride in that regard, and now we're gearing up for the all-important debates. he doesn't have a lot of moments left to create that hot hand. >> he needs to get a hot hand fast.

and again, gene, we have been talking about the great opportunities. a lot of conservatives. great opportunities that mitt romney should be having with unemployment still over 8%. real wages plummeting. trillion-dollar deficits every year. and yet he's getting hammered state by state. and of course this past week, we had this video released by mother jones, liberal magazine. and you talk about that in your post, your column today. and you talk about mitt romney's class warfare. what do you mean by that? >> well, the whole tenor of the 47th percent speech he gives at a fund-raiser is us versus them. we're republicans. we get it. what animates us is not what animates them. we're the -- you know, we're the makers and they're the takers. that's kind of the message he gives there. and frankly, it's not a very attractive one.

but, you know, back to what you were saying about the campaign, it seems to me that the longer we go without mitt romney getting some sort of momentum and finding some large message that he can communicate and make the campaign about, the better it is for the obama campaign. as long as it's day after day, grind it out, in a cloud of dust, who wins the day, the week, the obama people gain and gain and gain. they just ratchet up because they're better at this. they're better at running for president than the romney people. >> i've heard that. >> can i just say what i think is so interesting because we've been in this situation for months now? i don't know that we're having it, but the real debate that lines up in this campaign is what is the role of government in a distressed economy. what role should government play? what are the limits of it? what's the appropriate balance? that's the debate that i hope we have in the course of these presidential debates because that's really what people are struggling with. they want the government to be

involved as both a safety net and also to be investing in the future. but they also see the excesses of government. and even in big achievement under the obama administration, they see the shortcommings in terms of turning the economy around. this is the game right here. >> david, we know we've got to let you go. who do you have on this weekend? >> we're going to have a debate about the haves and have-nots and the role of government in this campaign. kelly ayotte, deval patrick and the king of new york, "morning joe," on our roundtable. >> let them say that of me. they'll be so proud. >> eugene, thanks. >> in the redneck riviera. thank you so much, david. gene, i just want to really quickly, gene, i want to touch one more point that you're talking about class warfare. it's not just class warfare outside the party. it's a bit of a battle inside the party. you know, the media always paints republicans as the p

plutocrats, the rich guys. it's just not true. the guys i served with in washington, tom coburn, steve lar largent, lindsey graham, i could name about 70 of them. we all came from working-class or middle-class backgrounds, and we would laugh -- i won't mention their names -- about the three or four really rich guys in our own republican caucus that were dis -- i guarantee you if mitt romney were in our republican caucus back in '95, '96, would roll our eyes because he doesn't -- he does not understand, we want to cut taxes not for the rich guy but for folks like, you know -- >> exactly. >> -- people that live in our neighborhoods. that's a real problem for romney even inside his own party. >> no, it is. he's got all sorts of problems inside his own party, but that's a huge one. it's as if he doesn't understand the modern republican party. and what it really is. and the fact that a lot of those people he dissed in the 47%

speech are republicans. >> right. >> and/or could be and vote for republicans, but i don't think are more likely to after they've heard him call them a bunch of loudish layabouts. >> that's about as good as pat's. negativism. you've got to get pat buchanan here. up next, carole king is here and jordan roth with a preview of the big trends this fall. keep it right here on "morning joe." woman 1: this isn't just another election. we're voting for...

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droid does. and does it launch apps by voice while learning your voice ? launch cab4me. droid does. keep left at the fork. does it do turn-by-turn navigation ? droid does. with verizon, america's largest 4g lte network, and motorola, droid does. get $100 off select motorola 4g lte smartphones like the droid razr. ♪ all you have to do is call my name ♪ ♪ and i'll be there ♪ on the next train all right. hey, welcome back to "morning joe." with us now, two great friends of the show, the president --

>> jordan roth and legendary singer/songwriter carole king. >> also, the founding executive producer of the show, chris licht is here. he lives down in boca. he spends the mornings on the beach. he's got one of those metal detector things. >> you know what he does with his free time? he e-mails me about what i'm wearing. he doesn't get my outfit today. so that kind of doesn't make any sense since he started with us. he's not very observant, is he? >> congratulations on five years. thanks for bailing out on us. we really appreciate it. what a friend you are. >> yeah, i know. i'm so proud to be watching this week. congratulations. i cannot believe it's been five years. it feels more like ten. >> yeah. >> we were going to say 20, but that will work. >> i should be out to pasture. >> carole has written a song for us, chris. we wanted you to hear us. >> it's in honor of jordan, the broadway musical version of what this show is. joe says -- ♪ and the reason we're in such a

bad state is a ♪ ♪ and the reason we're such a bad state is b ♪ ♪ and the reason we're in such a bad state is c ♪ ♪ and willie goes ♪ let's talk about the yankees and mike barnicle goes ♪ ♪ how about those red sox and mika goes -- ♪ can we read the news now >> i love her. i love her. >> and she has encapsulated, chris, five years in 15 seconds. >> that's it. >> that pretty much sums it up. >> we have a musical in the making. >> that does. chris, before we let you go back to the beach, any words? >> no. as i said, when i bailed on you guys, i knew it wouldn't get any better than this. and it's still true. you guys are the best. and five more years. i'll call in from, you know, from maybe california at that point. >> well, we'll see. we'll see. i understand some of the best metal detector collectors are just north of san bernardino. thanks a lot, chris.

>> get back to what you're doing. whatever it is. >> god bless you. get back to work. >> talk to you later, guys. >> jordan, let's talk about the fall season. >> what are we going to see? >> "morning joe," the musical. what else do we have? >> yeah. this is a chockful fall. we have 20 new shows opening between now and the end of the year. >> okay. what should we see? >> the fall is all about starry plays and family musicals. >> right. >> starry plays first. hot off of her oscar nomination for "the help," the great jessica chastain stars in "the heiress" with dan stevens. >> that's three stars right there. >> that's three stars for the price of one. the great al pacino returns in "glen gary glen ross." >> huge. >> the ultimate shark tank. now, he actually was nominated for an oscar 20 years ago for playing the young hot shot who

tries to muscle out all the older salesmen. now he's being ack as the older salesman. >> charlie levine. >> exactly right. david also has a new play called "the anarchist." patty lapone plays a political radical in jail, and she's pleading for her radical in jai pleading for her parole to the ward, played by deborah winger. >> sparks. >> newman is coming to broadway. wayne knight is playing santa claus in elf, the musical, based on that will ferrell movie which is one of my all-time favorite holiday movies. >> we got to talk about -- got a 9-year-old girl. got to talk about "annie." >> little orphan annie. >> i hear it is not going to be quite as -- i don't know if dark is the right word -- but the last go-round on broadway wasn't as uplifting and didn't do well. >> i think it is going to be the "annie" we know and love.

katy finnerin is playing annie and she will chew it. she is fantastic. katie holmes is coming in a new play called dead accounts. the great scarlett johansson is playing maggie, the cat in "cat on a hot tin roof," and henry winkler is playing an aging porn star. >> oh, my gosh! he watches "morning joe." >> you sound excited about that. and mike watches porn. so it's just -- everything is working together. >> this is broadway simbiosis. >> carole, going to get you back out on the road? >> we need more. >> more carol"e!" are we going to get more carole in. >> there's more plans right now. my manager likes me to keep it all open and in the future, but i don't have any plans right

now. >> let's make a plan right now. >> a pact. >> we need to make a plan right now to get her back out. >> will you write a song for our christmas show? >> sure. book it. >> so this summer's been kind of a tough summer for you. you love idaho. you've loved it for years but you said you were -- >> it's been on fire in the not good sense. >> smoke signals all summer. >> yeah. around july -- there were a couple of fires before the one near my place that started around july 27th. and ever since it's been smoke and the fire has been mostly in areas where people don't live but there are areas where people live near me where people were evacuated. and wound up being about -- within three miles of my place and, you know, it was scary. >> but you survived that. you survived being an author. wasn't that an amazing

experience? >> don't you love book tours? >> no, i don't. i think this show may have been my book tour but, no. i loved "a natural woman" continues to sell. i was on the best seller list for a while. >> what a great book. >> and now i'm work on a book -- i said i might write a book about the trubedor reunion tour. i want to talk about people i've met. but onward. >> onward is right. carole, thank you. >> thank you for writing that beautiful song. >> we will do "morning joe" on broadway with jordan roth producg. >> ring that. >> carole king and jordan roth, thank you. >> happy anniversary! >> thank you. congratulations, again. >> fantastic. we'll be right back with much more "morning joe."

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for this fifth year anniversary week, we went digging through the archives and found a few of our favorite moments from the show. we posted them on our blog,

mojo.msnbc.com. also there's some behind-the-scenes moments that never made it on air, thank god. you can see some of those, too, as well as -- i guess there's this deejay thing? i don't know. you want to see what t.j. does like brushing his teeth, i don't know. we'll be right back with much more "morning joe." americans are always ready to work hard for a better future. since ameriprise financial was founded back in 1894, they've been committed to putting clients first. helping generations through tough times. good times. never taking a bailout. there when you need them. helping millions of americans over the centuries. the strength of a global financial leader. the heart of a one-to-one relationship. together for your future. ♪

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good morning. happy anniversary, everybody. it is 8:00 on the east coast and 5:00 a.m. on the west coast. time to wake up as we take a live look at new york city. >> on set, you know what we have? we have the haves and the have-nots. >> we have the family drunk, mike barnicle. >> he's a have not right now but he'll be a have in the afternoon. >> brian sullivan. >> brian's a vhave. he has his iphone 5. >> and donny deutsch. >> stripes and all. >> we're getting new poll numbers out from three battle ground states. >> according to the nbc news/"wall street journal" poll -- without journal/maris poll, the president has 50% in all three states. in wisconsin he leads 50-45. iowa, same.

president obama won all three of those states in 2008. >> this president has been unable to get the 50%. karl rove wrote about it a couple days ago. if you're an incumbent, under 50%, sitting at 46%, 47%, that's bad news. we are seeing in the state polls him popping up to 50% even though nationally he's being dragged down by the low approval in the south. wisconsin, 50%. colorado, 50%. iowa, 50%. i mean a horrible set of polls out this week for mitt romney. could change, but state by state by state things aren't looking good. >> well, he's also at the edge of 50% in places like ohio. no one's ever had a worst seven day period. >> i think you can turn lemons

in into lemonade. think the 47% blunder can turn into a 47% windfall. draw the harsh line and say, you know what? these are the words -- maybe i didn't say it eloquently. his sentiment is right. this is an entitled country, it is a weak country, and things have got to change. take up the rage factor. i think there's something there. i really do. >> i really do, too. ronald reagan, if he were around right now, i always talk about margaret thatcher, other conservatives would use this and be optimistic about it. he's been pessimistic about it. but they'd use it to say, listen, we're getting to a point where 1 out of 2 americans don't pay income taxes. don't contribute to the federal government. don't contribute to schools. don't contribute -- you could use that and say, we have got to lift everybody. so i agree with you. here's another point, too, mika. >> yeah? >> and you watch. everybody talks about how the news media's biased. of course, it is biased.

it's also biased for news stories. >> correct? >> they are not going to allow mitt romney to lie on the mat between september 20th, 21st and november. you're going to see a swing back and you watch. if mitt romney can take one punch after another from his own fists -- because he keeps hurting himself -- and this thing ties back up, you're going to have a lot of clinched people in the obama campaign because they're going to go, god, this guy keeps blowing himself up and we can't get rid of him. i'm saying if that happens. i've just followed these things -- we all have. too much. the press loves it. >> the investment is the story. that's the investment. the media's investment is the story. and it makes no sense for any news outlet to want to see this thing explode to a point where people are saying, oh, it's already over the first of october. you want the story. >> same thing happened in the

primaries. they wouldn't let him win. they kept propping next guy, next guy. >> that's not looking good right now. a compilation of recent battleground polls shows a lot of blue on a battleground map of key states. obama enjoys a seven-point lead in ohio. in florida. >> the fox news state by state polls were pretty devastating yesterday. romney has to win florida. you look at these states. if he doesn't win ohio, then he has to win virginia and iowa. it is state by state by state pretty rough. but you know, mika, yesterday the president went and was interviewed on univision. and some interesting things coming out of that. >> well, he went after mitt romney on those comments. he was asked about it though. let's take a listen to what the

pred h president had to say. >> when you express an attitude that half the country considers itself victims, that somehow they want to be dependent on government, my thinking is, maybe you haven't gotten around a lot. because i travel around the country all the time and the american people are the hardest working people there are. >> it was comments though about the change -- about changing the tone of washington -- in washington that also got his opponent's attention. take a listen. >> obviously, the fact that we haven't been able to change the tone in washington is disappointing. i think that i've learned some lessons over the last four years. and the most important lesson i've learned is that you can't change washington from the inside. you can only change it from the outside. >> well, mitt romney quickly pounced on those words telling the crowd in sarasota, florida, that the president admits he's unable to break through the political gridlock and has

effectively surrendered. >> the president today threw in the white flag of surrender again. he said he can't change washington from the inside. he could only change it from outside. well, we're going to give him that chance in november. he's going outside. >> so here we go. the obama campaign accused romney of taking the president's words wildly out of context. there's also evidence that romney used similar language when running for president back in 2008. >> i believe that at this time to change washington, it would be helpful to have somebody who comes with more private sector skill, experience outside washington. i don't think you change washington from the inside. i think you change it from the outside. >> yeah, he says almost the said identical thing. of course though, brian, he wasn't president for four years. i don't think lbj or fdr would agree that you can't change washington from the inside. >> lbj had a force of will though that was probably a little bit stronger than most

today. listen, i don't know. i do have a serious question for you political types. who's polled? who is polled? you know, you often hear it is people that are home during the day. is it -- does the do-not-call list affect who actually picks up their phones? are they blocked? lack of a landline? i actually do not know. if you talk about two pollsters, they'll say polls today are less clear than they have ever been. i'm a numbers guy so you look at these numbers and i think what's the real basis of how people feel. >> you look at trepnd lines ove the past two weeks. all of the polls have been breaking one direction. that's what i would always look at. whatever polls i'd look at, i would see where the same poll was a week ago, two weeks ago, a month ago and just look at my trend lines. >> but i've talked to maybe 20 of my friends, similar age group, none of them have ever been called. >> i don't know if we're going to make a point on polls here

all morning, brian, if we are, i'm extremely bored. can you show the camera here, just to prove our point? romney rebounds. >> what? >> they've already -- they're d narrative. >> i love that point. because otherwise for 46 days, however many days left, there's nothing to do. >> that's hilarious actually. >> there will be that flip. i'm still curious though about what everybody's waiting for in those first debates. i don't want to be cynical. i'm not quite sure what's going to happen there that's going to flip the switch. we've seen these guys. i know we haven't seen them together -- >> give me a scenario -- give me, for instance, an all back-and-forth that could actually happen there -- >> here is actually where mitt romney blowing himself up, stepping on one land mine after another, helps him. it's like ronald reagan.

yes, ronald reagan, great debater, great communicator. but mike, you remember, everybody thought ronald reagan was crazy. jimmy carter had been saying he was going to blow up the world. ronald reagan just had to convince people that he was less like the mad hatter and more like grandpa. and went -- expectations were low. so romney's expectations are so low here that when he stands toe-to-toe with obama and beats him in the debate -- >> well that's a straenl. strategy? lower the bar? >> then that's a whole new narrative for him. the clip we just showed of governor romney down in sarasota, florida, basically saying the president just said wasn't can't be changed from within so we've got to get him out now, i just don't think people listen to that stuff. for the life of me, i don't understand why the governor and his campaign don't have one set speech basically saying here's how i'm going to put the country to work. one, two, three and four.

>> brian, there are so many people that are hurting out there right now. but you listen to these crowds, even after romney's had a horrific month. he's just proven himself to be one of the most incompetent candidates in recent american history. there are a lot of people showing up at these rallies and they're cheering because they want america to go in a new direction. he still has the opportunity to pull this out. >> i listen to you guys every morning when i can and i hear the talk about romney blew himself up, this, that, and the other. i think it's different. i think that this week with the secret tapes where you have sort of the audio from loyola, the president saying this, the beauty as a centrist non-political guy, now we know -- >> there's british flags in his pocket? >> -- i just wanted to show that i can be very sophisticated. the point is this. >> oh, lord. >> we now know what the election has been about. there's no more questions. there's no more let's get here. it's this or this.

what direction do you want to go in. that's it. a very clear choice. >> what is "ts" when it comes to mitt romney? give me one sentence that encapsulates "this." >> 107 million people receiving some form of government entitlement. now that includes me. i am -- i receive the mortgage pare tax deduction. >> this goes back to what -- in the past four years we added a trillion dollars to our debt every single year. food stamps fr have gone from 30 million people on food stamps in 2008 to 46 million people on food stamps right now. you look -- there are so many numbers. you look at the average house hole income from when barack obama was elected president to where he is today. but here's the twist. and it is a small twist.

instead of mitt romney going those victims, those lazy no-good victims. they're taking money from us. if he's more like a reagan and says, things are so bad that for a lot of people it's not a recession out there. it's a depression. because they've been out of work for two, three years. they're having to rely on the federal government and they hate that! i know they hate having to rely on the government. they want to get back on their own two feet. >> they hate it? i'd like to see mitt romney go in the middle of the most conservative town and the most conservative tout in america -- >> i'm saying that's that's what the speech is. ronald reagan gives the speech. they hate being on government assistance and that's why we have to work together to get new jobs, to build the economy. that sort of positive spin -- >> i'm also curious, how many people have said to you, yeah, what he said, yeah. i mean to me, that's a base

galvanizing thing and the two secret tapes, redistribute wealth, 47% of entitled americans on the payroll -- is the difference. i mean it is -- that's what this election is. and that is the very simple thing. are you a believer of spread it all out evenly raring -- little more fair play, or are you a believer we are top-down that's what it is. if i'm romney, he has not stirred any emotion. >> top-down hasn't worked. >> for that to work, you have to do a couple of things. romney can no longer use the class warfare card against the president of the united states. he's got to, in his speech, if you listen to what he said in florida from that fund-raiser thing, he continually refers to "those people." "those people." that ain't going to fly. "those people." like some alien tribe among us who are just lunging for food stamps? nobody wants to be born poor in the united states of america.

>> coming up next, a new film by david letterman's executive producer, rob burnett. he joins us next. as we wrap up our fifth anniversary week, a big look back at the best moments and biggest guests from the past five years. five years. from "morning joe." now, that's what i call a test drive. silverado! the most dependable, longest lasting, full-size pickups on the road. so, what do you think? [ engine revs ] i'll take it. [ male announcer ] it's chevy truck month. now during chevy truck month, get 0% apr financing for 60 months or trade up to get the 2012

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for those with abandoned hope, we'll restore hope and welcome them into a great national crusade to make america great again. >> let it be our cause to see that child grow up strong and secure, braced by her challenges but never struggling alone. >> i think it's a -- a. >> all right. 20 past the hour. woi wouldn't you like to say i'm the ceo of worldwide pants? joining us now on set, emmy award winning executive producer of the late show with dave letterman, rob burnett. the writer, director and producer of a new film about young filmmakers trying to stand out in an extraordinary town. take a look. >> my name is -- and this is the trailer. that's me and my friend.

we're all high school seniors living in a crappy [ bleep ] town you never heard of where everyone works at the chicken processing plant. we figured making a big hit comedy movie could be our way out of this town. we even had an inside track in hollywood. because do you know who went to our high school? bill pullman. i got three appreciate men to follow us around with cameras. >> a bill pullman bus. >> i have that bill pullman bust in my office. i think i'm the only man in america with the possible exception of bill pullman to have a bill pullman statue in his office. >> that's pretty exciting. some people would have reagan. i've got bobby kennedy in mine. >> i got bill pullman. >> that's inspiring. so every kid these days wants to be a filmmaker. >> and can be. >> every high school kid wants to go to film school.

>> yep. >> it's sad and pathetic, isn't it? >> that's pretty much what the movie is. it is these five high school kids, they have no prospects so they decide we can do it, we've got all the technology. but just because you can do it doesn't mean you should do it. so they set out to make a movie and they're awful at it but the trick of our movie is that these three freshmen follow them around because the main guy is so excited about his movie, he want the dvd extras when it's big. he wants the making of. he wants everything documented. but what happens is as the movie progresses, these kids in the background start capturing their lives and iturns into a completely different movie. they end up, by accident, making a very touching coming of age movie about themselves. >> wow. that's pretty cool. >> it's very cool. >> it depend. you can sit here and say it's a good concept, but can you execute it. did you guys execute it in. >> i cannot execute it. >> so it's a great idea but it sucks. >> in someone else's hands, it

would have been fantastic. absolutely. >> but guess what? this ain't the breakfast club. right? unfortunately. no, it sounds like a great concept. >> the thing is, just from the clips that we've seen here, it speaks to so many young kid and so many small middle sized towns in this country. what do they do to escape? they go to the movies. what's the ultimate escape from the hometown they live in so they don't have to work in the plastic factory or chicken factory, let's make a movie! let's go to hollywood. >> that's the way it is. they set out to do it but they had no idea what they're movie. they're making kind of a "jackass" sort of thing. they're not fearless, they're not funny. but they all have very touching stories going on in their lives and we see that and it turns into a completely different thing. >> with every technological advancement there is an underbelly.

with this society of whether it is "american idol" or youtube stars, every young person believes there is an outlet available for them to not take the normal path and a short cut. to say it is false hope is an understatement. and clearly you hit that nerve. >> it's all about that. i see it all the time with my kids and their friends, with all the cliches, facebook, tweets, look what i'm doing, this and this. what's interesting is the technology is there but sometimes the artistic voice isn't there. that's what this movie is about. they accidently find their voice because it really becomes about their friendships and their relationships. >> i find it ironic that now you do have all of the capabilities to make a film, to make a cd. but somehow this generation being bombarded with all of these different options actually stunts creativity. you get text messages every 13 seconds. e-mails every 20 second.

whereas, i'm not saying i'm a creative guy, but i've written a lot of songs, done a lot of things. you know why? because i went in my room, closed the door, put on my headphones and locked myself away. this generation -- forget about the facebook generation. this is the ritalin generation and it's sad. >> i think it cuts both ways. i think you're right on one hand but on the other hand, the technology that exists -- now this movie we crowd sourced the music. we made a deal with red bull sound stage which is a website for up and coming bands. so it's all access. we did a thing with them where we put four scenes of the movie up and we said, you guys give us the music. >> very cool. >> we thought we'd get 30 or 40 submissions. we got 1,200 songs from brand-new bands and we put the four in the movie. we added another 18. there's 22 songs. it is an all red bull sound stage soundtrack. these bands are amazing. one of them actually was on the letterman show last monday. >> that's incredible.

>> what's cool about this movie, it is almost like there's so many layers to it that characters want to be famous, the actors are all unknown actors who are fantastic, they're all trying to become famous. the bands are trying to become famous. i'm already famous but wanted to be as famous as donny eventually. >> you're absolutely -- you're massive. i can't even believe -- you know what? i cannot even believe we're middle easting you. >> that band analogy is an example of how all this technology and access has leveled the playing field. >> it has leveled the playing field in music and in film. the question is whether the next generation -- >> will have what it takes. >> and will have, like you said, they have the tools, do they have something to say. this looks like a great examination of that. >> this movie is now available on itunes. rob burnett -- >> i predict right now, it is going to change the world. >> thanks for joining us. >> thanks for having me. coming up, business before the bell with brian sullivan. and later, a big look back

at five years. five years! of "morning joe." >> i'm old. donny, you yourself, you cut where it hurt. you boost your dependence on gel products for your hair by 50%. >> here's the disturbing thing. i know you worked harder on your hair than i worked on mine. >> true story? five second. towel dry -- all you kids at home. -- towel dry, little thing -- boom, out. >> you know i start my morning with the "morning joe." >> joe and mika, happy anniversary. happy fifth anniversary on the "morning joe" show. i'm so proud of both of you and how you're changing the way america thinks.

like every american, you lot of republican and democratic national conventions. the speeches, the wait, the pageantry. now that they're over, you want to relive the most glorious moments of all. convention cutaways, featuring the best audience shots. like woman who's sobbing before anyone started speaking and guy

who's dancing to no music whatsoever. and relive the majesty of -- woman who's just walking around. and, guy who brought props that only make sense to him. stunning coverage of true patrons making history. like guy pretending he was asleep, with way too much arm flab. you'll enjoy hours and hours of inspired cutaways, like middle eastern cutting to whenever they mention hispanics. straight guy they keep cutting to whenever someone mentions gay marriage. and of course, joe biden. convention cutaways. order today so we know if we should start making them. >> all right. 32 past the hour. it is time now on this five-year anniversary, on this "morning

joe" day officially proclaimed. business before the bell now with cnbc's brian sullivan. want to talk about housing. but is there any show that you do that is as nice to you as us? >> that is a very difficult question to answer while i'm sitting within striking distance. >> is he scared of me? >> the answer is no. i was just told in my ear. no, no. nor as just the coffee on this show is just spectacular. who brews it? >> starbucks. yes, it does. >> howard schultz himself. >> just for mika. the french press. business now. good news on housing. >> yeah, some good news on house. by the way, congrats to the five years. in all sincerity it is fun to be here, except for barnicle. no, there's great front page article in the wall street journt about $400 billion being added to home values this year. this is important. there is not really one thing in the economy as important to the

overall well being and psychology most importantly of consumers as housing. when people's home prices go -- values go down, they feel poor often, even if they're still making their normal income. when they rise up, they feel like there's a pad. it's a protection. i can sell my house -- >> confidence. >> it is. they're more willing to take a chance. right? if i start a business, if i fail, i can move. so some good data. we're still not back to the level of home value overall that we were in '07 but the numbers certainly on the way up. we get add .5% to gdp if this continues. we talk about debt all the time, newman rater is debt, deuntil naturer is growth. you get that growth number up just a little bit. i'll blow your mind with this stat on your five-year anniversary. 1% growth in gdp per year will add $3 trillion to the economy over a decade. that's more than any of these cuts, anything we've talked about. >> i was close. >> so we just need to get growth up by 1%. >> the very, very, very, very

top of the show you all smartly declined on doing a commercial for the iphone 5. i will let you have ten seconds to talk about it now. how high will the stock go today? >> it's at $700. everybody's killing the maps today. i used the map feature on the way in here. it is integrated with yelp. i kind of like it, actually. you can check out restaurants nearby. there's apple today. you probably even covered it on this program about how the apple iphone could add a couple of tenths of% to gdp as well. how about this? iphone, let's say adds a couple tenths, housing, adds a couple tenths. pretty soon we're creeping back to that 1% number and a few trillion, your pay, added to the economy. you're welcome, america. >> an optimistic guy, brian sullivan. >> i really am. >> you are. >> were you hyperactive as a child in. >> huh? >> yeah, he was. coming up, five years of great momentum of the biggest guests. a look back at five years on "morning joe." i just want to give her everything. [ whistles ]

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up next, what we've all been waiting for. aren't you excited? >> i'm excited. this is fantastic. >> do you even know what i'm talking about? >> it's great. i'm looking at it online here. is there five years of "morning joe" boiled down to eight minutes. >> look at this! so that's why t.j.'s been so bad. >> he's drunk. >> oh, my lord -- everybody's drinking. five years boiled down to eight minutes coming up next. here now is a clip never before seen of the upcoming dick cheney story. enjoy it.

♪ he can turn the world on with a smile ♪ ♪ suddenly make it all seem worth while ♪ ♪ you're gonna make it after all ♪ >> i'm sorry. >> that's funny to you? if that were a liberal you were just be -- that was so sick! i usually don't laugh -- >> you thought that was funny? >> what's wrong with you? what is wrong with you? what is so funny? i thought that was hateful. i thought it was horrible. >> it had nothing to do with dick cheney. please move on. [ female announcer ] roam like the gnome this fall.

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so book your hotel now and save up to 40%. why they're always there to talk. i love you, james. don't you love me? i'm a robot. i know. i know you're a robot! but there's more in you than just circuits and wires! uhhh. (cries) a machine can't give you what a person can. that's why ally has knowledgeable people there for you, night and day. ally bank. your money needs an ally.

gives you a 50% annual bonus. and everyone likes 50% more [ russian accent ] rubles. eh, eheh, eh, eh. [ brooklyn accent ] 50% more simoleons. [ western accent ] 50% more sawbucks.

♪ [ maine accent ] 50% more clams. it's a lobster, either way. [ male announcer ] the capital one cash rewards card. with a 50% annual cash bonus, it's the card for people who like more cash. [ italian accent ] 50% more dough! what's in your wallet? in celebration of its fifth anniversary, i do hereby proclaim friday, september 21st, 2012 in the city of new york, "morning joe" day. >> that's big stuff! >> it's "morning joe" day! welcome back to "morning joe." when we started this thing, we started it on a shoestring. obviously the 30-minute phone

calls that passed for segments. >> pat buchanan, can you stay with us for another hour on the phone? >> sure, joe! >> of course, no money, no support. it's safe to say things have changed in five years. fim griffin decides that we can get a cake for the fifth year anniversary. unfortunately, we had to go to costco and it was a leftover cake. >> let's just call it a gently used cake. intended for someone -- this actually happened. we ordered a big fifth anniversary cake. we're going to splurge on it, get it right, celebrate five great years of "morning joe." this is what they sent us back. benjamin joseph having a big birthday today. >> willie, it's been great. >> we have your cake. so everything you ever needed to know about five years of "morning joe," you got to watch now. >> it's awful. >> it's terrible. it suction.

>> while america was sleeping, history was made. [ alarm ] ♪ ♪ good morning and welcome to "morning joe." its a 6:00 a.m. on the east coast. >> frankly, because there are not enough news coverage like this. >> what is the don't miss tv program in the vice president's residence? >> "morning joe." >> you are in a -- don't criticize joe. >> i tell you what, man. i'm staying there. >> mayhem. >> you watch every day, right? >> i do. >> i've got somebody i can make a connection with. >>ky take you on the road with us? >> yes, let's go. >> i enjoy the show very much

and watch it several days a week. >> i watch all the time. i've got to do something to get my blood going in the morning. >> all right! >> i love the show. >> oh, thank you. >> i've been begging to get on the show forever. >> really. >> yes. >> to me, this is a dream come true. >> i think you all do this better than anybody on television. you guys got the morning thing down. >> i think it is the best political affairs show on television because you have a's got time and guys who know what they're talking about. >> i'm just interested in regis. >> anything, anything at all on capitol hill that you guys can agree on? >> well, we agree on watching "morning joe." >> your show is on every morning in the gym. it is the only one. ♪ ♪

>> she's speaking like british now. >> i'm sorry! >> she came up to me and said, so i'm so happy you're part of the a-list? >> mika. >> i chastise people for not starting their day right here. >> you and dr. brzezinski actually agree with each other a good bit but you try to keep it quiet. >> that's right. >> why is this the end? why won't you do this more? >> you know, i could join a panel somewhere. >> i'm happy with the fact that i've been either at the top or next to the top through this whole process. that's pretty darn good. >> i don't understand how you can be "morning joe" brought to you by starbucks. because when i see you, you seem more like evening joe brought to you by jack daniels. >> thanks, every pun. >> you nailed it. >> joe, actually i was coming on this morning to ask you to be my running mate. >> it's over. i'm in telephone until i day. >> joe, it's a pleasure to talk to somebody who's been through it. >> what i did was tee ball

compared to what you're doing, baby. >> you were an aggressive man. >> i was! this is getting good! >> it's all vicarious living. >> it is a culmination of 50% vanity and 50% discipline. >> i guess i need some discipline more than the vanity. ♪ surrender ♪ surrender ♪ but don't give yourself away ♪ >> you bring the 42nd president of the united states on set an we're still talking s.e.c. football. ♪ ♪ whatever happened to all the seasons losers of the year ♪ >> i've done super bowls, i've done olympics, but today is the single biggest thrill of my life. on this show! the greatest show in america.

>> come on, get down here. torch has been passed to a new generation. >> business before the bell with mark haines coming up next. the very hot mark haines live at new york stock exchange. >> i'm kind of dancing here because we don't have a lot going on. >> whether we're talking about politics or fashion or whether we're talking about foreign policy, we try to do it like the industry does it. >> the most fun we have when we do this show is when we take it on the road. we think it's really important when you're going to cover politics to do it with dignity and gravitas. >> welcome to a special sunday edition of "morning joe." we're, of course, well, hell, i don't have to tell you where we

are. >> pretend like you're working! crisis! economic crisis! scare everybody! go! >> it might be 9 degrees outside but it's always warm and sunny in the hawaiian tropic zone restaurant. >> we cover fashion -- >> we love fashion. >> but you know what? it's not that hard. >> mika's impressed with your jacket. she said you looked very good in it. >> she's my sartorial advisor. >> oh, stop it. >> you need some moisturizer on those cavs! >> i just saw the most interesting man in the world. >> i know. >> you have a white spot on your gut. you might want to take care of it. >> this is a "gq" day. >> we like to cover pop culture. i got a real kick -- >> access hollywood. lindsay lohan. >> oh, my god. i am done with the paris hilton story. okay. my paris hilton lead story.

>> what a statement. that's a statement about the state of journalism in our country. >> you've changed the world, mi mika brzezinskbrzezinski. >> we're not talking about charlie sheen again. >> what's the council on foreign relations position on charlie sheen? >> all options are on the table. >> if there's one thing we love on "morning joe," man, it is pets. >> we love fluffy kickers. those stories that end the segments that just make you so happy. >> president obama tried to eat that dog? >> not that dog! in 1983. >> the puppies? how many cats do you have? >> i have three. >> oh, my god! what's wrong with you? >> i think what separates our show from any other show, we're not afraid to say on the air "i love you." >> god, that was a horrible

forecast. >> who does bill karins think he is? >> i'm wondering if anyone's offered to cut your hair. >> you want to comment on my cardigan at all? it's terrible, right? >> yeah. >> i'm glad i flew on the red eye for this. awesome. >> a lot of the other morning shows do these beautiful cooking segments. they've got the big kitchen set. you bring in bobby flay or mario batali. it is the classic cooking segme segment. >> we have eating segments. >> this is so important i'm not going to break for lunch. i reach in my pocket, boom. right there. >> flour, sugar, oat flour, brown sugar, coconut oil, salt -- >> what are you doing? >> mika brzezinski. >> and she tasted it and thought db wow. >> how you doing? >> that is really been five

years? >> feels a lot longer. >> mike, you believe we've been at this five years? when we started this show, you were 78 years old. >> i know. >> that's amazing. >> that is a long time ago. and we're measuring the show in terms of dog years. now i'm nearly 150. >> and you look it, too. >> i feel it. i feel it. >> seriously, i can't do this anymore. >> we need a raise. >> yes. i'm out of here. seriously, get the [ bleep ] out of here. i swear to god. you're on your own. >> you know what? if you can't take the heat -- >> i'm out of here. >> -- get out of the kitchen. >> i'm out. >> just get out of the kitchen. right. when we come back, what we've learned over the past five years. anything? >> that's a lot to remember. we'll be right back. the capital one cash rewards card

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learned -- stop drinking, mika. stop it! >> i think we hang on to the cake. it's ours. >> it's hard to believe, you look at that videotape, walking mika shred the paris hilton script an we're still here five years later. that all worked that idea at the beginning, we could do 20 minute interviews with people talking about foreign policy and deep in the weeds economic, we're still here doing it. >> we're still here. you are still talking. i told you i was too old for this. >> how old are you now? >> way too old. >> okay. i tell you what i learned seriously. when we started this thing, we had -- we literally had three people working in the studio doing a three-hour show. first couple years we had eight. and i've learned, the people that we have in the control room right now, such a small group of people comparatively to what happens in the tv industry. it is remarkable what they do every single day. you can go